T. Denny Sanford, who one year ago made a $50 million gift to support biomedical research at Sanford-Burnham, has just given $100 million to Sanford Health. The gift will assist the South Dakota-based health system’s efforts to research, diagnose and treat breast cancer.
“It is with a sense of pride and conviction that we confirm that Mr. Sanford’s $100 million gift will launch a national breast cancer initiative. According to the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, breast cancer is second only to lung cancer for new diagnoses – 1,383,523 – and deaths – 458,367 – annually,” said Brian Mortenson, president of Sanford Health Foundation.
Sanford, who has long expressed his desire to die broke, has generously supported medical research and health care, especially children’s health and childhood diseases. Four years ago, he gave $400 million to Sanford Health. The following year he donated $20 million, through Sanford Health, to Sanford-Burnham to create the Sanford Children’s Health Research Center. He also donated $30 million to the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine to support construction of a new stem cell research facility.
Read more about Sanford’s gift at the Sioux Falls Argus Leader: T. Denny Sanford donates $100 million more to health system and $100 million gift to Sanford Health will boost breast cancer research, care.